Transcript Highlights:

• Guard that were harmed as a result of their efforts to access these important benefits.
• To Mr. Kelley, thank you for your distinguished service. Thank you for your response on 9/11.
• Calendar 818, Senate Print 1551, Senator Parker, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
• Calendar 868, Senate Print 9735, Senator Kavanagh, an act to amend the Public Service Law.
• we're going to exempt the State and state regulatory agencies with regard to access to privacy.

Keywords: 993, senate, all

Summary: The Senate convened with prayer, approved the journal, and welcomed several guest groups, including Saugerties student government officers, the Marlboro High School boys bowling state champions, a civics group, a National Guard/9-11 responder advocate, family members honoring Salvador Vizcarrondo Jr., architecture professionals, correctional officers and employees, and small business representatives. Members also offered resolutions recognizing Architecture Week, Correctional Officers and Employees Week, and Small Business Week, along with tributes to community leaders and student achievements. The chamber then took up a series of bills on the non-controversial calendar, passing measures on education leave for incarcerated people, utility interconnection study, property tax exemption, alcohol regulation, executive law, school drill requirements, victim sentencing rights, public health, public officers, public authorities, election law, environmental conservation, veterans/homeland security, labor, and other topics. Several bills were laid aside. Some measures drew brief explanations of vote, including concerns about school safety drills, correctional staffing and safety, and a victims’ rights bill that one senator said mirrored an earlier version he had carried. The most extended debate centered on the 21st Century Antitrust Act (Calendar 879), with supporters arguing it would modernize antitrust enforcement against dominant firms, especially big tech, and opponents warning it would create vague standards, invite private lawsuits, and harm small and rural businesses. Another debated bill (Calendar 818) would restrict sharing of utility consumption data with police; supporters framed it as a privacy measure requiring normal legal process, while opponents said it would hinder law enforcement while still allowing state regulators access. Both bills were ultimately restored to the non-controversial calendar and passed, and the Senate adjourned until the next day.

Transcript Highlights:

• activity, economic resources, or access to services. ...to clean a firearm.
• activity, economic resources, or access to services.
• You're talking about people who don't have access to, weren't able to finish their high school diploma
• continue services like Meals on Wheels to our elders.
• And I don't know about you all, but I ran on access to care.

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I don't even have the ability to access the statute now without knowing what the DNA is going to be or
• </c> statute I don't even have the ability to statute I don't even have the ability to access<01:07:10.400
• There needs to be an audit of who accesses the body-worn camera.
• Once a copy is made, there's no way to ensure that access to that copy is for law enforcement or official
• c> of</c> there's no way to ensure that access of there's no way to ensure that access of that<01:19:

Committee: Senate Judiciary

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And, and she did have to go above and beyond to make sure that I had that access to higher education,
• It's not to pick winners or losers. It's to provide an education that everyone can, can access.
• Members, House Bill 5646 seeks to expand access to in-state tuition rates for military-affiliated students
• to them shows that we value their service and invest it in their future.
• It's about ensuring that all communities continue to have access to affordable, nutrient-dense food grown

Committee: House Higher Education

Transcript Highlights:

• commitment to academic excellence, workforce development, and service to our community.
• They are a nonprofit organization that ensures safety-net access to evidence-based care for people with
• We are proud to have them here and thank them for their commitment to service and civic engagement, and
• I hate that you had to call me after Senator Bracey Davis with that introduction. commitment to service
• Committee substitute for Senate Bill 52, a bill to be entitled an act relating to security services at

Keywords: 998, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• access to it.
• In order to do that, we're going to need access to those funds.
• , we're going to need to have access to those funds.
• </c><00:36:24.320><c> to</c> we're going to need to have access to we're going to need to have access
• </c> expenses to personal services. expenses to personal services.

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• In 2022, we influenced 149 service members to continue to serve.
• its quest to get this bill passed." their postmilitary service service to their postmilitary service
• And, as noted in the bullet, not all veterans have access to, or preferences to access, a CVSO.
• c> got</c><01:22:42.960><c> a</c> preferences to access a cvso we've got a preferences to access a cvso
• </c><01:23:14.159><c> um</c> um from service to get re acclimated um um from service to get re acclimated

Committee: House Veterans and Military Affairs Division

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• to try to get some county case management<00:21:09.520><c> services.
• care coordination services provided by the MCOs and guaranteeing access to providers through leveraging
• access to providers through guaranteeing access to providers through leveraging<00:31:51.840><c> commercial
• to medication or improved access to facilities that can provide these medications.
• </c> wraparound services people need to stay wraparound services people need to stay stable<01:43:22.320

Committee: Senate Health and Human Services

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• But the road has to be maintained to even have access to the wall, Senator. Okay.
• But the road has to be maintained to even have access to the wall, Senator. Okay.
• related to health and human services.
• authority to implement additional IT service management capabilities to improve our service delivery
• And so it makes it very, very difficult for us to be able to find them again once we lose access to them

Bills: SB 1

Committee: Senate Finance

Keywords: campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards

Summary: The committee began with Article I budget items for the Secretary of State. LBB staff outlined recommendations that would reduce the agency’s appropriation by about $40.3 million, including changes to HAVA funding, removal of one-time business system replacement money, and a rider directing the agency to use Fund 5095 first. Secretary Jane Nelson and staff then defended several exceptional items, especially additional staffing for elections and business filings, a new website, digitization of records, cybersecurity tools, and renovation of the James Earl Rudder Building. Members focused heavily on election administration, cross-checking voter rolls, Harris County complaints, call-center response times, and whether online voter registration should be expanded. No votes were taken; the discussion was informational and budget-focused. The committee then heard the Office of the Governor and trustee programs. LBB presented a recommended $2.4 million decrease for the governor’s office proper and a much larger decrease in trustee programs driven by one-time funding and unexpended balances, while still preserving major border security funding and victim assistance funding. Governor’s staff emphasized Texas’ economic growth, the importance of border security, and efforts to seek federal reimbursement for the roughly $11 billion Texas has spent on border operations. Members discussed whether shifting National Guard deployment to federal control could reduce state costs, and they also reviewed the music incubator program, the Governor’s University Research Initiative, and the semiconductor innovation consortium. Staff highlighted a $5 million late-added request for grants to protect nonprofits from violence and terrorism. Again, the exchange was largely explanatory, with no formal action. Finally, the committee took up the Texas Facilities Commission and lease payments for revenue bonds. LBB recommended major reductions overall, including removal of border wall construction funding and capital complex bond funding, but added money for higher utility costs, renovation of the Rudder Building, and additional facilities staff. George Purcell also noted stable maintenance-and-renewal funding and new riders related to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission building, tenant communications, and space utilization. For lease payments, LBB recommended a smaller appropriation tied to revenue-bond costs allocated across agencies. The discussion was informational, with members asking about the Rudder Building renovation, border wall progress, and capital complex construction timelines; no votes were recorded.

Transcript Highlights:

• The first pillar is access to health care, no surprise.
• Access to affordable quality medical care is a fundamental right for every Texan.
• Texans is a fundamental priority for public health, and every Texan deserves access to safe, high-quality
• The future of Texas depends on access to good jobs, workforce development, in every single neighborhood
• Right now, electrical providers are not allowed to disconnect service during an extreme weather event

Summary: Senator Molly Cook held a press event on the deadline to file bills for the 89th Legislative Session to introduce her first legislative package, which she said is guided by a “nurse-first” approach focused on public health and safety. She described six pillars for the agenda: access to health care, safe homes and infrastructure, a clean environment, opportunity through jobs and public education, belonging and connection, and healthy and fair systems. She said the package includes 93 bills, with more than 20 developed from constituent input or collaboration in Senate District 15. Cook highlighted several measures, including SB 1312, which would bar electric service disconnections during extreme weather events; SB 1550, which would require hands-on CPR instruction in schools; SB 1764, which would set clearer rules for exiting a state takeover of a school district; SB 2725, the “Safe Streets Bill,” which would let cities lower residential speed limits to 20 mph without a costly study; SB 2723, which would repeal homosexual conduct as a criminal offense; and SB 2728, which would help new mothers use their Medicaid card to enroll newborns. She also noted bills on AED access, housing affordability and renters’ rights, youth e-cigarette exposure, hurricane preparedness, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ+ protections, women’s health, education accountability, and anti-corruption. In response to questions, Cook emphasized that the smoke-shop and e-cigarette bills were prompted by constituents concerned about a vape shop near an elementary school and would restrict advertising near schools and other sensitive locations, keep minors out of shops, and limit proximity to schools. She also explained that the speed-limit bill would remove the need for a costly study before cities lower residential speeds, while still requiring signage and public notice. The event ended with Cook thanking her staff and saying she looked forward to continuing the work in Austin.

Transcript Highlights:

• What does it take for a person to be broken down so much to get to that place?
• And the stories we hear are horrendous: mental health, lack of access to medicine, mental health issues
• DCYF services or substantively change things to the detriment of licensure or child care, but would
• that would not jeopardize any DCYF services or substantively change things to the detriment of their
• People in detention deserve the same access to justice as everyone else, and that is why I urge you to

Bills: HB2464 , SGA9305

Committee: Senate Human Services

Keywords: detention facilities, law enforcement, reporting requirements, incidents, private detention, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• meeting our goals around safety, mobility, and equity access to transportation.
• businesses can effectively deliver goods and services, our construction industry can access good jobs
• of Fair Share funds, the debt service is still anticipated to come from the general fund?
• go to debt service moving forward, significantly more than what's anticipated for education?
• The debt service—I just want to make clear—the intent for both programs would be not to just issue one

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The Joint Committee on Bonding, State Assets, and Capital Expenditures held its first public hearing on House Bill 4257, a transportation bonding bill. The administration testified in support, describing the bill as a $1.185 billion authorization: $300 million for Chapter 90 municipal road funding and $885 million for statewide transportation capital programs. Officials said the bill would increase municipal aid by 50%, with $200 million distributed under the traditional Chapter 90 formula and $100 million based solely on road mileage to better help rural communities. They also highlighted $500 million for bridge and pavement lifecycle asset management, $200 million for culverts and small bridges, and $185 million for congestion, safety, ADA, sidewalk, and multimodal improvements. Committee members asked about how municipalities would apply, how the road-mile formula would affect rural towns, and how the bill would interact with federal funding uncertainty and debt financing. Administration witnesses explained that projects would be administered through MassDOT district offices and Grant Central, that the bill would not backfill rescinded federal funds, and that the proposal would likely use special obligation bonds backed by Fair Share revenues to reduce pressure on the Commonwealth’s general obligation debt limit. Members also pressed the administration on the shift from general obligation to special obligation financing and on whether the Chapter 90 increase keeps pace with inflation. Administration officials said the special obligation structure would be credit-rated separately and was intended to expand available capital without affecting the GO bond cap, while acknowledging that the Commonwealth’s debt portfolio would grow. They said the Chapter 90 increase would roughly restore purchasing power lost since 2012, though construction inflation has outpaced general inflation. Several members and witnesses emphasized the importance of the road-mile formula for rural communities and the need for technical assistance for small towns. The Massachusetts Municipal Association testified in strong support of the bill, calling Chapter 90 and the new infrastructure authorizations critical for cities and towns facing federal uncertainty and rising costs. The Massachusetts Aggregate and Asphalt Pavement Association also supported the bill, citing the importance of the funding for road and bridge work, the construction season, and the industry’s economic impact. A committee member asked about asphalt price inflation, and the witness said liquid asphalt costs rose sharply after COVID, including increases of around 20% in some years. At the end of the hearing, the chair said members would receive a poll by email to move the bill out quickly, and the committee then voted to adjourn.

Transcript Highlights:

• to trauma-informed services.
• , and have access to justice, support, and essential services throughout the year.
• And whereas the Senate expresses its appreciation to victim service providers, law enforcement personnel
• strengthening protections for survivors, expanding access to victim services, supporting community-based
• I was appointing Senator Kuby to the Committee on Health and Human Services to temporarily replace Senator

Summary: The Senate opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then recorded attendance at 23 present, 0 absent, and 7 excused. The journal for April 21, 2026, was approved without objection. The chamber then adopted a legislative proclamation recognizing April 19–25, 2026, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in Arizona, honoring victims, survivors, and service providers. Senator Bolick spoke in support of the proclamation, tying it to Domestic Violence Awareness Month and highlighting work with victim advocates and survivors, including Amberley’s Place, Janice’s Women’s Center, and Kaylee Kozak. She referenced prior legislation such as SB 1211, which allows lifetime no-contact injunctions for certain domestic violence victims, and described broader efforts to strengthen protections and avoid retraumatizing survivors. She then moved to reconsider the Senate’s prior failure to pass HB 2950 on third reading, and the motion was adopted. The Senate also received a large package of new budget-related bills, SB 1831 through SB 1846, covering general appropriations, state budget implementation, capital outlay, commerce, criminal justice, environment, healthcare, higher education, human services, K–12 education, local government, state properties, revenue, tax and taxation, and transportation. These bills were referred to the Committee on Appropriations, Transportation, and Technology, and the Senate suspended the five-day committee agenda rule so the committee could hear them on April 28, 2026. Committee announcements noted that the Senate and House Appropriations committees would meet the next day at 10 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1, and the Senate adjourned until April 28, 2026, at 1:15 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• to qualify, including restrictions<00:04:01.439><c> on</c><00:04:01.760><c> service</c><00:04:02.080
• </c><00:09:24.080><c> attract</c><00:09:24.560><c> services,</c> tools will help us to attract services
• They are expanding their service<00:09:51.839><c> offerings</c><00:09:52.240><c> to</c><00:09:52.480>
• <c> include</c><00:09:52.800><c> physical</c> service offerings to include physical service offerings
• Our residents continue to ask for internet services that at this time we still can't afford to bring

Committee: Senate Taxes

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• be subjected to the standard civil service hiring process and not be political appointees.
• Importantly, the bill also safeguards access to historical information.
• so that any information previously found in the SARC remains accessible and easy to locate.
• dashboard updates to ensure that it remains as accessible as a simple PDF is for parents to scroll through
• access to smartphones on school grounds.

Summary: The committee heard several education-related bills, with the most extensive discussion focused on AB 2189, AB 2615, AB 2496, AB 1750, and AB 1644. AB 2189 would create an $800,000 grant program through the State Council on Developmental Disabilities to support a statewide parent network for special education advocacy and training. Supporters said families need stronger coordination and information to navigate special education, while an opponent argued the bill could duplicate existing family-led organizations. The bill passed 6-0 and was sent to Appropriations, held on call for add-on votes. AB 2615, a cleanup bill to AB 715 on antisemitism and instructional materials, drew the most controversy. The authors said it was intended to clarify prior commitments by removing references to professional responsibility standards, refining the “factually accurate” language, and clarifying how discriminatory materials are handled. Supporters said it would help protect students from discrimination, while many educators, civil rights groups, and other organizations opposed it unless amended, warning that the factual-accuracy language could chill teaching and be applied too broadly. The committee chair and members raised concerns about implementation but ultimately supported moving the bill forward; it passed 5-0 and was held on call. AB 2496 would streamline school accountability reporting by making the California School Dashboard the primary transparency tool, phasing out the School Accountability Report Card over time, and making mid-year LCAP reporting optional. Supporters said this would reduce duplication and administrative burden while preserving access to key data; opponents worried families could lose the simplicity and accessibility of the current SARC and that the mid-year update still serves an important purpose. The bill was approved 3-0 and held on call. AB 1750, which would extend full salary for an additional five months for school employees who exhaust sick leave due to illness or injury, was supported as a dignity and retention measure but opposed by administrators over staffing and cost concerns; it passed 4-0 and was held on call. AB 1644 would require a bell-to-bell smartphone ban in TK-8 and recommend it for high school, with exceptions for instructional and safety needs; supporters said phones are harming attention and learning, while opponents argued districts had just adopted local policies and needed more flexibility. The transcript ends during discussion of that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• services and to case managers and to health care supports that make them more stable.
• to services and case management there is.
• to services and case management there is.
• It's a prerequisite for accessing the only housing available to them.
• All barriers to expanding access to shelters and housing need to be minimized, and I urge you to vote

Bills: HB2304 , SGA9280 , SGA9281

Committee: Senate Housing

Keywords: condominium, housing, warranty, property rights, construction, 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The traffic can be carried by the statewide system to ensure that there was no disruption to the service
• There's been attempts to curtail civil rights, restrict labor protections, restrict access to education
• limit the access of immigrants to public benefits that they would otherwise be entitled to, and the
• app, a computer, access to the internet.
• , we wouldn't be able to provide services to nearly 8,000 of those victims.

Summary: The committee heard an overview from Cal OES on disaster response, LA wildfire recovery, federal FEMA reimbursements, security monitoring, and the state’s 911 transition. Cal OES said its budget supports disaster preparedness and recovery, including ongoing work in Los Angeles, where it reported about 700 FEMA public assistance applications totaling roughly $1.2 billion and about $545 million in state wildfire response and recovery funding already allocated under AB 100. Members pressed for more detail on FEMA delays, hazard mitigation grants, federal event planning, and the status of Operation Stonegarden, while also raising concerns about small-disaster recovery, federal shutdown impacts, and the need for more timely reporting. A major portion of the hearing focused on Next Generation 911. Cal OES described problems with the current regional deployment, especially call-routing and transfer failures, and said it now plans to shift to a statewide provider as an interim step, then run an open procurement for a long-term vendor. The agency said it expects to execute a bridging contract in the coming weeks, release an RFP in the second quarter of 2026, award a long-term contract in the fall, begin transitioning Los Angeles-area PSAPs ahead of the 2028 Olympics, and complete statewide migration by summer 2030. The LAO urged the Legislature to pause further implementation until it has more information on the problems, alternatives, costs, privacy/security issues, and oversight needs, and recommended quarterly and monthly reporting if the project proceeds. Several senators echoed concerns about cost, redundancy, cybersecurity, and whether the statewide model could create new risks, and the chair said she would pursue a joint oversight hearing with the Emergency Management Committee and seek input from the State Auditor. The Department of Justice then presented its overall workload and budget pressures. DOJ highlighted its work on fentanyl enforcement, human trafficking, firearms recovery, housing enforcement, consumer protection, environmental and civil rights litigation, and a large federal litigation workload, saying it has filed 59 lawsuits against the Trump administration and won most of them. DOJ said the added federal cases and other mandates have strained existing staff, though 44 additional hires have been made. Members praised DOJ’s work on immigration, housing, and federal accountability, and asked for more information on detention facilities and staffing. The committee also reviewed DOJ’s firearms-related budget proposals. DOJ requested funding for continued firearms IT modernization, implementation of SB 704 on firearm barrels, and a temporary shift of Bureau of Firearms costs to the General Fund. The LAO supported the IT modernization request but recommended funding SB 704 from the Dealer’s Record of Sale Special Account, with startup costs covered by a loan from the Firearm Safety and Enforcement Special Fund, and suggested limiting the General Fund shift to one year and treating it as a loan. The LAO also asked DOJ to develop a framework by January 10, 2027, for deciding which firearm and ammunition workload should be supported by fee revenue rather than the General Fund.

Transcript Highlights:

• This is especially important for our... ...homeowners who need to maintain access to life-sustaining
• CNPO. ...service to their homes if they are prepared to relocate the trees.
• It allows families to meet their housing needs, maintain access to essential infrastructure, and make
• For these reasons, I respectfully really. service to their homes if they are prepared to relocate the
• We don't have a lot of access to outdoor space.

Summary: The committee heard several bills related to wildlife access, groundwater enforcement, desert plant regulation, outdoor equity, and water supply planning. SB 1021 would direct the Fish and Game Commission to create accommodations for children with life-threatening illnesses to participate in hunting and fishing opportunities; supporters described the bill as therapeutic and family-centered, while an opposition group argued the state should focus on non-lethal outdoor activities. SB 997 would give the North Fork Kings Groundwater Sustainability Agency lien authority to enforce fees and penalties under SGMA; the author and agency said the bill closes an enforcement gap for a special-legislation GSA, and it drew broad support from local government and agricultural groups. The committee also considered SB 1061, which would streamline relocation permits for Western Joshua trees on private property; the author and local officials said the current law creates burdens for homeowners and infrastructure, while supporters framed the bill as a balance between conservation and property rights. Members also heard SB 1268, which would codify the Outdoors for All initiative to expand park access and outdoor equity, especially in underserved communities; it received strong support from environmental, parks, local government, and community organizations, with members praising the effort to improve access. SB 1085 would restore water supply assessment requirements for large developments even when CEQA exemptions apply, so local agencies still receive early information about water availability; the sponsor and water agencies said the bill helps prevent “paper water” problems and supports planning in drought conditions, and the building industry indicated it would remove its opposition after amendments. The committee accepted amendments on several bills, took roll once quorum was established, and advanced the measures by vote. Votes taken included SB 997, SB 1021, SB 1061, SB 1085, and SB 1268, all of which were reported out of committee, with SB 1061, SB 1085, and SB 1268 later recorded as passing 11-0. SB 997 was approved on a due-pass motion to Judiciary, SB 1021 was sent to Appropriations as amended, SB 1061 and SB 1085 were sent to Appropriations and Local Government respectively, and SB 1268 was sent to Natural Resources. The meeting concluded with the committee adjourning after completing the votes.

Transcript Highlights:

• So we want to assure that individuals and families have access to care within their community.
• So this was a $46 million ARPA-funded grant program to support human service agencies.
• What are some of the initiatives particular to direct service professionals and direct support services
• What are some of the initiatives particular to direct service professionals and direct support services
• any substantial services are going to be people with very severe needs.

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The subcommittee met to approve the April and May minutes, welcome a new member, and hear an update from Gina Frey of EOHHS on statewide health and human services workforce development efforts. Frey described cross-secretariat initiatives under the Workforce Skills Cabinet, including MA Repay loan repayment awards, expanded community college and tuition supports, ESOL/work-readiness programming for immigrants, and efforts to build career pathways and reduce attrition in nursing, behavioral health, direct care, and primary care. She also reviewed a $46 million ARPA-funded home and community-based services grant program that supported 82 grantees, led to hiring 8,752 new staff, over 1,000 interns, 2,000 new certifications, and a drop in vacancy rates from 22% to 12%. Members raised concerns about the impact of immigration policy changes on the direct care workforce, including losses of trained workers in provider agencies, and asked whether any exemption or other relief efforts were underway. Frey said EOHHS is tracking the issue closely but did not identify a specific exemption effort. The discussion also touched on Medicaid and related program changes, with Frey noting the administration is focused on understanding potential impacts to eligibility and work requirements. Rep. Howard asked about initiatives for direct support professionals and wraparound supports, and Frey said those efforts are often led by individual agencies such as MassAbility and DDS, with EOHHS coordinating across them. The latter part of the meeting shifted to planning FY26 subcommittee goals and possible events. Members discussed using the Health Policy Commission’s Behavioral Health Workforce Center and possibly asking for a study comparing compensation in DDS and related direct care roles against health care and education jobs. They also discussed a possible cross-state public event on immigration’s impact on the workforce, especially for people with disabilities and direct support services, and agreed to continue refining goals and event ideas by email and at the next meeting. Frey provided a website link and contact information for Amy Doyle at the Health Policy Commission to facilitate future presentations.

Transcript Highlights:

• That local loan servicing that we've talked about is a very important thing to have locally.
• We've been continuing to grow our servicing portfolio every year, every month.
• There are points that are provided for increasing access to income and access to earned benefits.
• grow, their access to income or increases in income is less than others.
• And so those, you know, I trust that those will be accessed by the interested parties to, as far as disseminating

Summary: The committee met as the Regulatory Division budget section and first reviewed the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency’s budget and program update. Legislative Council outlined the agency’s base budget and historical funding, and Housing Finance staff reported on homeownership lending, housing incentive fund (HIF) awards, and homeless grant spending. Agency officials said the five new FTEs approved last session are mostly filled, with one homeless program manager still open. They described strong demand for HIF, noting that September 2025 multifamily requests exceeded $73 million while only $25 million was available, and that single-family and homeless programs are also heavily subscribed. Members discussed the agency’s local loan servicing workload, interest-rate benefits, down payment assistance, and the need to coordinate housing discussions with Commerce and site-preparation efforts. The agency asked that HIF, single-family, and homeless funding be maintained or increased, and committee members emphasized accountability and statewide access for homeless prevention and rapid rehousing funds. The Department of Mineral Resources then presented its budget and agency initiatives. Staff reported that the department is on track financially, that most of the five new reclamation-related FTEs are hired, and that litigation costs tied to oil and gas matters are expected to continue appearing late in the biennium. The director reviewed ongoing modernization and organizational efforts, including the North Star IT project, succession planning, training, and rulemaking for oil and gas and critical minerals. Members asked about longer laterals, spacing, and production trends; the department said operators are increasingly drilling three-, four-, and even an initial five-mile lateral, which is helping keep North Dakota oil production relatively flat even as rig counts ease. The director also discussed oil price volatility tied to Middle East conflict, hedging practices among producers, gas capture remaining around 95%, and the likelihood that current production levels will stay near flat unless prices or geopolitical conditions change significantly. An update on the enhanced oil recovery grant program followed. The Industrial Commission’s grant administrator said the full $25 million appropriation was allocated in the fall to six projects, and because the oil and gas research fund also had carryover and biennial tax revenue, total awards reached about $45.1 million. The projects are expected to run two to four years, with meaningful results not likely until mid-2026 or later. Members questioned whether the public would have access to the research findings and how accountability would be maintained; staff said the grants are reimbursement-based, require regular status reports, and will culminate in public final reports. The committee also heard from the North Dakota Pipeline Authority, which updated members on natural gas transmission projects, especially WBI Energy’s proposed Bakken East pipeline. The authority said the project has advanced through a nonbinding and then binding open season, with WBI now securing survey permissions and moving through regulatory and landowner processes, while other related gas transmission projects near Minot and Epping are also in development.